Fablehaven
Fablehaven is a region of forested and grassy hills and meadows. Its resources are mainly coal, wool, cloth, lumber, gold, and salted lamb. Most of the land is controlled and governed by the Church of the First Breath (name not yet settled against the Church of the Holy Breath used elsewhere — see Open questions), though a few "outlaw" encampments oppose the church's rule.
Groups/Factions
Church of the First Breath
Coal Miner's Union
Bhrenor's Brigade
[Deserters]
Burbridge
Burbridge is a city in Fablehaven ruled by Arch Bishop Burble V of the Church of the First Breath. It is the church's headquarters and the largest settlement in the region, hosting everything from grand and regal houses of worship to dark and dirty slums.
Resources: Coal, Wool, Cloth, Lamb (Food), Lamb (Livestock), Lumber
- Burbridge was settled on a very lucrative coal mine, worked by the people of the slums. Poverty is widespread there, and nearly everyone finds themselves working in the mines. Many pray to the church for a better life, but find themselves working for pay they can barely survive on, until their bodies are broken and old, with no time or opportunity to better themselves. The coal mined from Burbridge is known far and wide as high quality and well valued, and some mine workers feel a small amount of honor and service in the hard work and sacrifice they provide their city and religion. Others are beginning to grow fed up with the conditions they live under while watching those above them — literally and figuratively — live in excess.
- The people of the slums also run a wool mill that produces a large amount of wool cloth for the region. Landowners in the suburbs supply the mill with raw wool, and the mill processes it into cloth sold to merchants and to support the church.
- The countryside consists of landowners who run wheat farms and sheep pastures, supplying much of the raw wool to the mill as well as some food.
- The rich family estates dabble in jewelry, fine clothing, and specialty weapon forging.
- Camp Shypee is a military training encampment in Burbridge for the church's divine army, commanded by Ser Shypee II, a master of all combat styles. Recruits can train along several paths: a powerful knight who wields a large pneuma blade in heavy-armored melee combat; an agile archer whose bow imbues arrows with pneuma; or one of several kinds of Pneumanists, who use pneuma to wield the natural elemental powers in different ways (offensive spellcasting, defensive spellcasting)
[Questline Concept] A class war has emerged mostly between the coal miners and the [rich family estates], and the church and their army are beginning to intervene. The coal miners are trying to start a union that [the rich family estates] are opposed to, and the coal miners are beginning to take action.
The defector encampment (name TBD)
A small, hidden encampment in the hills, settled by defectors from the divine army. They found a source of iron and are building themselves up as a force to oppose the church, believing the Church of the First Breath is oppressive and cruel and does not faithfully represent Bhrenor. Many have lost family, friends, or even their homes to what they see as the church's iron fist. They hope to one day build a new, peaceful, and free society away from the church's control.
- Iron Mines — they operate an iron mine producing a large amount of iron.
- The encampment's militia ambushes the church city's coal shipments and takes the coal for their own cause.
- They are beginning to be able to forge steel — a new step forward in power for them.
The pneuma meadow (name TBD)
An exceptionally large meadow in Fablehaven, surrounded by dense forest, with a large stone monument or magical artifact (exact nature TBD) at its center. It has become an important religious site for the church: the ancient object emits pneuma in a crawlingly slow but ever-lasting stream. Its nature and source are unknown, and the details of its existence are still being studied — to the people of Fablehaven it is a natural phenomenon. Occasionally a surge of pneuma passes through the object, and (an enemy appears, or some manifestation of pneuma/the elements — TBD).
Quests and Storylines
- (CONCEPT) The coal miners and otherwise poor citizens of Fablehaven band together to revolt against the rule of Burble and storm the castle and take control of Burbridge. Burble and some of his council escape.
Open questions
- Is the church "Church of the First Breath" (as in this concept) or "Church of the Holy Breath" (as referenced on the Bhrenor page)? Not yet settled.
- What is the region's world called (referenced as "[game world name]" in the source concept)?
- Names for the defector encampment and the pneuma meadow.
- What exactly the meadow's central object is, and what its pneuma surges produce.
- Whether Bhrenor or the church itself is the intended object of the miners' prayers.